OAP OUTING CRASH KILLS TWO

Two elderly women are dead after a coach lost brakes and overturned on the steep downward approach to Looe.

Disaster struck this afternoon (Tuesday) as the Carmel coach of 40 or so pensioners on an Age Concern outing crashed into a hedge by the Snooty Fox pub.

At least seven other pensioners have been hospitalised, and the 57 year old driver’s been arrested so cops can quiz him over whether he was driving dangerously.

The tragedy has made national headlines.

South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray said: ‘It’s just very, very tragic. I would like to pay tribute to all of the rescue services. They do a tremendous job.

“IThe coach turned on its side and all the windows blew out and it lost all the glass’

‘I know they will be going above and beyond to make sure that the injured who need hospital treatment are transferred as quickly as possible.

‘The community has rallied around and offered comfort to the walking wounded and the other people who are very, very frightened.’

Here’s all the police updates from the incident ordered most recent first:

Police investigating the fatal coach collision can confirm the driver of the coach, a 57 year-old man from Exeter, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been taken into police custody at Launceston.

The bus was operated by Carmel and police believe it was being used for a trip organised by Age Concern from Exmouth.

Police can now confirm both the deceased are women.

Anyone concerned their relative may have been on the coach can call Derriford Hospital on 0845 155 8155.

Update 1650 130514

Update 1605hrs 130514

A second person has died on arrival at hospital in Plymouth.
The first fatality was a woman.

Seven other people were taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Four others were taken to hospital by land ambulance.

The remainder were treated at the scene for ‘walking wounded’ injuries and will be taken away from the scene imminently.

Further information will follow in due course.

Update 1530 130514

Update 1440 130514

The collision has been declared a major incident and numerous emergency services are at the scene dealing with the collision.

One person, a passenger, has died from injuries sustained in the collision. there are no details on the sex or age of this person at this time.

There are known to be a number of other casualties who are also passengers but the severity of their injuries is not known at this time.

The coach was carrying around 40 people, all believed to be aged in the 60s and over.

Police will release further information when it is available.

For info – the coach was in collision with a hedge and not a wall as previously stated.

Police and other emergency services are dealing with a serious collision involving a coach in the Looe area this afternoon, Tuesday 13 May.

At around 1pm police officers were called to the A387 at Morval, around three miles from Looe, to reports that a coach had collided with a wall.

The coach had been travelling from the Plymouth direction towards Looe between Sandplace and Widegates when the incident occurred.

Fire and ambulance crews were also called to the scene.

There is no information on the age or number of passengers, or the status of casualties at this time but the road has been closed and is expected to remain so for some time.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to please call police on 101 reference 351 130514.